Bridge petition's growing in size

SUPPORT is growing behind a petition to replace Tiaro's 70-year-old bridge, after recent wet weather forced the closure of the bridge and connecting roads.

More than 100 signatures have been gathered since the petition started less than a month ago, although Tiaro resident Barry Johnson believes thousands more could be on the way.

"At the moment we have just handed the petition out in local shops," Mr Johnson said.

"But if we went around door to door, we would be able to get at least 2000."

Mr Johnson said he worried about the safety of the bridge.

"I know people who are too afraid to cross it, because they think it's unstable," he said. "It's just incredible that nothing has been done about it for so long.

"Hopefully this petition will help us to get the bridge up to standard."

The petition, which was created by council candidate John Horrex, asks for a new bridge to be built across the Mary River on Mungar Rd.

Mr Horrex said the bridge wasn't big enough to handle the trucks and heavy traffic that frequented the area.

"It's only one lane wide," Mr Horrex said.

"There are a lot of big trucks that travel over it, so it's only a matter of time before there is an accident."